St. Pete is serious about capitalizing on eVTOLs

A group of local business and civic leaders is well on their way to helping ensure St. Petersburg can capitalize on a nascent, lucrative industry.

Former City Councilmember Ed Montanari returned to City Hall with “good news” Aug. 7. The career pilot now leads St. Petersburg’s inaugural Advanced Air Mobility Task Force, which, after a storm-delayed start, has met regularly since April.

Advanced air mobility (AAM) is a rapidly evolving aerospace sector that typically utilizes electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOLs) to move people and cargo. Experts believe it will become a $137 billion industry by 2035.

Montanari compared the task force’s mission to studying traditional air travel after St. Petersburg hosted the first commercial flight in 1914. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to certify eVTOLs within the next two years; the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) launched an advisory committee in April 2024.

“It’s an industry that has just started, and it’s going to change our world,” Montanari said. “This subject is being taken very seriously by the FAA, the federal government and the FDOT, and with the formation of this Advanced Air Mobility Task Force, it is being taken seriously here in St. Petersburg.”

Montanari, a former fighter and commercial jet pilot, presented the first of two progress reports to the council. The 12-person task force will complete its final report by the end of the year and offer its recommendations in January 2026.

The group will evaluate compatibility planning, zoning and land use, regulatory frameworks, local and regional integration, funding strategies and any other pertinent considerations that may arise through their work. “There’s a jobs component with this also, so I’m glad the state is involved,” Montanari said.

In June, the president issued two executive orders to advance AAM and eVTOLs. Those require the FAA to select five related projects by Dec. 3.

Montanari said federal funding would become available “very, very soon.” Tampa International Airport’s leadership asked the task force if they would consider partnering on “a team to go after that funding.”

Montanari called members smart and good listeners who facilitate robust discussions at meetings, which typically include presentations from subject matter experts. Stakeholders expect a $30 billion eVTOL market in five years.

“When we first brought this to the Economic and Workforce Development Committee, we kind of concentrated on the air taxi and cargo component of it,” Montanari said. “But as we study this more, there’s a big medical transport capability.”

Duke Energy led a discussion on superchargers for eVTOL batteries. St. Petersburg Fire Rescue discussed electrical safety at vertiports, which resemble traditional helipads with additional operational infrastructure.

Stakeholders have focused on establishing the city’s first vertiport at Albert Whitted Airport. Montanari noted eVTOLS require very little take-off and landing space and believes the relatively small vehicles will have no problem operating from the city-owned facility.

However, storing charged batteries to ensure a quick turnaround on flights presents a potential safety issue. “Just think about what happened to us here in St. Petersburg last year with two hurricanes … What happens to electric vehicles when it comes to flooding?” Montanari said.

“I think they will be compatible, but there are some issues that we need to work out.”

Councilmember Gina Driscoll would like to know the skills and training necessary to accommodate AAM-related jobs. Brian Caper, economic and workforce development director, said multiple city departments are “following this closely” and continue looking for opportunities and partnerships to ensure St. Petersburg is “a leader in this space.”

Montanari noted the city and Pinellas County likely lack the land to build an eVTOL manufacturing plant. “We may not build the whole aircraft, but we might build a component,” he added.

Companies that manufacture traditional aerospace components have thrived in the area. “So, that’s the mindset I want our economic development people to be thinking about,” Montanari said.

“When you see this list of task force members, and knowing that you’re heading it, we’re in good hands,” said Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz. “I love the fact that we’re looking at how we fit into the picture.”

The group will discuss leading eVTOL manufacturers, which have all partnered with traditional airlines, at its Aug. 25 meeting. Alen Tomczak, chief of staff for industry supporter ARK Invest, will lead the presentation.

Montanari will present a second progress report to the council in November. “The fact that we’re getting in early ensures that we’re going to be ready, because it is coming, no matter what,” Hanewicz said.